Ship arrest in Spain: prompt settlement by Interlegal
14 February, 2025
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A Client – shipowner – recently applied to Interlegal on vessel release in Seville, Spain.
In such cases, a crucial factor is quick response, because every day of a vessel idle stay at the port causes not only significant financial losses, but also a threat of contract termination, disruptions in logistics chains and reputational risks. Therefore, in cases related to vessel detention, it is critically important not only to build a correct legal strategy but also to secure prompt communication with all parties, authorities and instances involved.
In order to respond effectively on site, we immediately involved Interlegal Spanish associate colleagues who helped to quickly understand the situation.
Initially, the documents provided by the Client indicated that the vessel was detained by the Seville Harbor Master, but our Spanish colleagues helped us to find out that in fact the vessel was arrested on the grounds of court decision.
Ship arrest claim made up 260,000.00 euros.
Without any delay, Interlegal law team actively joined the commercial negotiations. Due to joint efforts with the Client, we reached an agreement to reduce the claim amount to 230,000 euros and to settle the dispute out of court.
For the Client, a keystone was not only to reduce the claim amount, but also to release the vessel immediately, so the difference of 30,000 euros was enough to fully satisfy its interests.
Therefore, the parties signed a dispute settlement agreement and filed a joint application with the court on vessel release.
Cooperation with our colleagues in Spain played a vital role in successful case completion. Prompt legal support on site allowed us to quickly obtain the necessary information, to find out actual reasons for vessel detention, to speed up the negotiation process and to secure smooth interaction with the court and the port authority.
Cooperation with local partners is not just an advantage, but a necessity in cases with foreign jurisdictions involved. Due to the wide network of associated offices, Interlegal law team can promptly resolve issues of ship arrest in 60+ countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Fruitful cooperation with Spanish colleagues and immediate response to all the complexities of the Seville case helped us to reach an agreement on optimal terms for the Client and to release the vessel, having also reduced the debt amount.
Interlegal law team led the case: junior lawyer Mariia Kalashnikova, associate attorney Taras Dragan, managed by partner & attorney-at-law Karyna Gorova.
